The Legend Of The Lonely Ladybug

The Bitter Chronicles

The stallion sighed.

Moments ago he had returned from the depths of the forest after a period of gathering his thoughts, two hours no less in complete silence and no one but insects for company. Now Faith was taking a walk through the town to ease his mind before finally going to talk with Twilight. Heading to where he knew she lived for having already been there, he remembered what he had promised.

The pegasus would finally reveal his history to a total stranger.

Right now his mind pondered whether or not it had been a good idea to make such a promise to begin with. What did she care? The mare unicorn hadn't gone through a youth as a peculiarity shunned by other calves and forced to be solitary by a freak accident. She nor her friends had not made those decisions. They would never understand the emotional stress that he had gone through.

"To them I am just an obligation that comes and goes," Faith thought to himself, turning around the corner and now seeing Twilight's house looming in the distance.

He naturally hesitated as his mind cooked up excuses to abandon the whole thing. In his life Faith desired nothing more than being what he felt better being; a neutral pony living solitary life far away from society with better capability to give good deeds to the lost than they'd ever be able to return him for being a lost soul himself. As a silent guardian no evil could ever hurt him the same way again, not anymore after spending almost four years in Everfree Forest.

Not even It could.

"Leave now when she isn't watching. The one chance to escape. Still enough time to get as much distance between me and that unicorn as I can," the pegasus thought. Despite it Faith's loyalty prevented the urge from driving his actions.

He remembered how Pinkie had gone through the trouble of renting him an apartment, how Applejack had fed him, how Fluttershy had massaged and talked to him. They had not asked anything in return, only social interaction.

"How could I let them down after all the hospitality that they gave me?", the pegasus asked himself. Approaching the house, he still tried to convince himself to turn and run, but eventually closed it from his mind. He would not try fleeing anymore, not like that. A gentlecolt will walk but never run.

Telling her his story was the least he could give in return. To him there would be no turning back. Faith would let Twilight herself deem his case impossible. Perhaps she would even let him go.

Faith arrived to the treehouse that served as the unicorn's library. An open window at the second floor closed, noted by Faith who had not expected himself to be observed yet.

'If that was Twilight my chances to escape are now gone,' he thought.

Having made up his mind anyway, he trotted over to the front door and prepared to knock it with his front limb.

At that moment the door opened from inside. Twilight stood at the doorway, having indeed been expecting him.

“Nice to see you, Faith," she greeted calmly, "Thank you for not running away."

As a returning gesture Faith grinned his usual fake smile and moved inside with eagerness to get it all over with. As soon as his gaze met the living room the now surprised pegasus came to a stand upon noticing what else greeted him.

All five of Twilight's friends were found gathered in the room; Rainbow Dash laying on her back at the cough while taking a nap, Fluttershy and Applejack occupying the space near said cough with Pinkie Pie sitting on the floor and snacking on chocolate candy that she had brought with her in a paper bag. Rarity was holding a portable mirror and tidying her hair not too far from them. They had all been waiting for his arrival too and stopped their free activity to approach him as soon as his presence got noticed.

“I called everyone else to hear you too if that isn’t a problem," Twilight told Faith who for a moment looked troubled for not having expected the other mares. Accepting the larger crowd, the pegasus shrugged.

“Alright," he complied slightly frustratedly.

Unknown to him and the six mares, the walls had grown ears. Being the last of the six mares to arrive to the meeting, Applejack had attracted her little sister's attention who had followed with her own friends right over to Twilight's house and were now eavesdropping on the conversation.

“It is Faith! Ah knew Applejack had more to say than she did," Apple Bloom whispered beside the window.

“Shhhh! Quiet! I can’t hear what they say," Scootaloo hissed, pushing her ear closer to the window.

Inside Twilight stood among the rest of the mares and was watching Faith.

“Most of the ponies here have played a part in assisting you so I think they too deserve to learn your story," she told to him "That’s if you wish to explain it to them. The Elements of Harmony are listening, Faith.”

The feminine stallion observed everyone around him quietly, a smile eventually creeping on his face.

“You have cared for me when I was only expecting a momentary satisfaction in guiding you to those calves and drawing the spider away," he began, "I literally got what I gave and more. I hold you my deepest gratitude.” As he finished his sentence Faith respectfully gestured his head in an incline to bring across his respect and impression. A nod was returned to him by all six mares.

“Because of this I also somewhat trust you," Faith continued. "I believe you could be the ones to understand what I have gone through.”

Despite the claim Faith was confident that they wouldn't, still treating his case the same way. As he walked to the middle of the living room the mares followed and saw the pegasus rest down to the carpet. Taking a few deep breaths, Faith went quiet, preparing himself for the difficult task ahead.

“I will tell you my story as far as I can remember it," he started, "I recall very little from my childhood, being an individual among the rest of my generation of young pegasus calves. I am a stallion. Yet I look like a mare. The adults told me my physical traits were unique for a colt. It isolated me from the rest of my age group. I was either shunned and ridiculed by the obnoxious kids or avoided by others because they were ashamed of sharing my company. I didn't understand why they treated me the way they did. As a result I became wary of other ponies."

Faith's eyes remained tightly closed, preferring to not look at the mares he spoke to. At this point all he cared about was letting them know and be done with it. They wouldn't be able to help him in either case.

"I was longing for loyal friends but my sense of unity was under vigorous beating. I tried everything to find my place yet I still became an outcast. The beauty of the surrounding natural world was all that I had left for comfort. I do not remember anything about my family. Maybe they helped me, maybe they didn't. But the loneliness was constantly there. I felt like an alien amongst others which broke my heart."

Behind his closed eyes Faith heard a whimper.

"It kept going on so long that I grew bitter, looking on as the happiness and romance of others blossomed. My insides boiled from hatred and jealousy that I didn't even want. I reject those emotions. Alone or not, I have a responsibility in what I give not just to others but also myself."

Faith paused, coming up with the best way to continue to explain his mind to his audience.

"I forced myself to accept the situation to give myself peace. Despite it I felt worthless. The bitterness wasn't going to leave. It kept growing...........and growing...........all by itself........it wasn't stopping at all! It became an entity of it's own."

The stallion's eyelids tightened. Faith was reaching the hardest recollections of his past. "It tried to turn me over to it's side. But the better side of me kept it back. I wasn't going to give it what it wanted."

A deep, troubled breath left the stallion's lungs, a gasping exhale following it. A whimper was heard again.

"I struggled to remain a good pony. But I was deeply depressed. I wouldn't be able to keep fighting it forever, not with my limitations. I was torn to two directions. I had to do something radical before I'd snap. And I had to do it on my own. So I sought an isolated place........" Faith paused again.

"What did you do?", Twilight's concerned voice asked him. For a moment the pegasus did not answer.

"I knew what I wanted to protect. So I banished it, threw it out of myself to the void. It said that it would find it's way back to reclaim me and everything I love. When I heard it I didn't recognize the pony that I had known as myself anymore.................it wasn't a pony at all. I was greatly weakened. But when my strength came back I felt relief and gladness about what I had given up on. I would never carry a grudge towards others again. I had succeeded. But it was then that I realized that something was still wrong. Everything around me lost it's colors. The world started warping...........it must have been the isolation."

A third whimper went off.

"Quiet, Fluttershy!", Rainbow uttered.

"Keep going, Faith," Twilight added kindly.

"Something bizarre happened," Faith again narrated. "I suddenly felt lifeless, like a huge chunk of me had been removed. I was afraid. Then everything went dark. When I woke up during what I assume was the following night.........I couldn't remember anything. There was a burning sensation in my flank. The cutie mark that I do not recognize was there."

Twilight knew this part of the story for having gone through it with him just a day before. Regardless of it those same details kept her thoughtful, the ladybug mark remaining elusive.

"I was still afraid that the bitterness would do as it had threatened," Faith pushed on, "A storm arrived as I pondered. I ended up fleeing from my home grounds."

"Why didn't you try to find your parents?", Twilight asked.

"I had to protect them!", Faith exclaimed, "I had to protect myself. So I travelled. A few times I tried to talk to others but my shame made it impossible...........I'm a freak." He sighed as his face fell, none of the mares saying anything.

"Since then I avoided most contact until I stumbled upon Everfree Forest, one of the few places in the world where I could spend time with myself. You might be wondering how I have survived in such a hostile place. Before I got there I became aware of an ability that I had somehow gained. I understand insect language. In the forest I could use their guidance."

A calmness in his voice hinted at more pleasant memories as the pegasus approached the end of his story. "I learned about the dangers and how to share space with them. Helping others find their way out of the forest is how I have given my existence a purpose. This I have already told Twilight and Fluttershy. So after four years, here I am."

By now having completed everything he had to tell, the pegasus remained in his meditative position without making a single noise. The mares surrounding him looked on, made silent by what they had heard. Rarity was holding a hoofkerchief and blew her nose loud, being the first mare to speak again after a rather stretchy silence.

“Great, my makeup is now ruined," her voice trembled, "Sweet Celestia, what a tragic story!”

Upon opening his eyes Faith's own stare pointed itself to blank distance as Twilight drew herself near.

”Thank you so much for trusting this story to our ears," she told him sincerely before closing the pegasus to a short embrace. Releasing, she looked him in the eyes while thinking. “What would you want us to do?”

"There is nothing that can be done," Faith shook his head calmly, having accepted the hopelessness of his situation.

”I know we can do something," Twilight argued confidently.

“You have already have done so much for me," Faith replied back. "I can not possibly ask for more.”

The group still remained mute, Fluttershy’s lips wobbling.

“There has to be something, Faith," Twilight argued, "Something to explain the memory loss.”

As he listened the unicorn Faith got up on all fours and quietly returned glances at the mares.

Before anyone saw it coming, the front door was literally thrust in from the outside. The Cutie Mark Crusaders rushed into Twilight's living room. Crying openly, all three fillies leapt simultaneously and tackled Faith which took him by surprise.

“Mister Faith! We sympathize with ya,” Apple Bloom's tiny voice squeaked loudly.

“Apple Bloom! Why aren’t ya at the Acres?”, Applejack gave a dismayed shout.

”Sweetie Belle?”, Rarity was heard uttering not too far behind the work horse.

The fillies still clung to Faith, soaking him to a tear fountain.

“I know, sis," Apple Bloom sniffed. "But ya left in such a hurry. I had to satisfy mah curiosity.”

”We are so sorry for eavesdropping, miss Twilight,” Sweetie Belle babbled deliriously, a flow of liquid flowing freely from her eyes.

The fillies eventually released Faith, standing by him with retinas the size of dinner plates and trembling, wobbly grins directed at the now all confused and wet pegasus who returned a silent stare at them before shaking himself dry like a dog. A grinning smile was now directed back at the fillies.

“I had no idea how many here would associate with my story. I’m speechless,” Faith uttered, the fillies chuckling sentimentally. Aside them the mares now wore smiles of their own.

By itself Faith’s grin ended up disappearing and his stare absently wandered back down at the floor which made the other ponies look worried.

“That is why I deeply regret what I must ask you next," Faith spoke darkly, looking up at Twilight, “If it isn’t too much to ask I’d like to leave Ponyville," the pegasus said politely.

The entire group of horses found itself under utter confusion without making any sense of his intention.

“Uh……….don’t you want our help?”, Twilight asked Faith uncertainly.

“You have helped me immensely, girls," Faith answered sincerely. Again his gaze wandered up at the ceiling. “But I already told you before, Twilight. My fate does not concern anypony else. I have an inner karma that I must balance. Only I can help myself with that. No one else can. It is my responsibility.”

Twilight kept herself determined in helping the stallion. “Of course it is, Faith," she admitted calmly, "But it doesn’t mean that we can’t help you help yourself. Please accept our help.”

The unicorn sighed, now giving him a begging look. In the way she saw it, Faith was only complicating his own task by refusing the offered help.

"What's an inner karma?", Sweetie Belle bumped in before Rarity gestured her to remain quiet. Such terms would go way beyond her little sister's head even if they were explained to her. Even Rarity herself pondered how much she exactly knew about strange terms that originated way beyond the borders of Equestria. Maybe a zebra akin to Zecora was involved somehow? It was all theory and the unicorn decided to think of something else.

“It’s weird how you spoke about your desire to be with other ponies if you only want to distance yourself to everyone," Rainbow murmured doubtfully.

“Just let him speak, Rainbow," Twilight gave an utter while glancing back at her.

Listening their exchange, Faith became nervous again.

"Don’t you understand?", he whimpered with a troubled posterior, "It’s years too late now! My old bitterness! It said that it would find its way back and seek me out. When it returns I have to be ready. I can’t let it hurt others! That monster is not who I am! I don’t want to be a bad guy!”, the pegasus whimpered desperately which made the mares and fillies afraid.

“How………..how were you planning to deal with this?”, Twilight asked, uncertainty gaining more ground.

Faith suddenly straightened himself with a new strange determination. He had somehow expected such a question.

“I have to protect others from what I myself have grown," he exclaimed loudly if not desperately, almost sounding like he was ignoring everyone else and speaking to himself, "I get what I give. I will find the right way to defeat it.”

“By yourself?! You’re crazy!!”, Rainbow barked, having become upset at what her ears were hearing.

"Calm down, Rainbow," Twilight gestured hoof at her friend.

“He’s crazy I tell you! After all that we did for him,” Rainbow's outburst went on.

“Rainbow?”, Twilight raised her voice in a none too pleased manner as a sign that she wouldn't tolerate an angry debate. The cyan pegasus crossed her front limbs, giving up on arguing against the unicorn.

“Fine!”, she exclaimed bitterly.

While not as off-put as Rainbow by Faith's speeches Twilight wasn't feeling any less worried when she established new eye contact with her guest.

“With all the due respect, Faith, Rainbow is onto something," she lectured him calmly, "You can’t just isolate yourself to find a solution.”

Making Faith understand her point was not going to be easy.

“What if you lose? What if that bitterness takes you over?”, she asked him, slightly afraid of the implications to her question. A long silence followed. In the kitchen they heard a drop of water plopping in the sink. At the wall the clock ticked. Outside birds sang fluently.

“Then as a last resort I will make sure that it won’t hurt anyone else,” Faith's answer came with brass confidence.

There was a loud gasp coming from several shocked ponies. In a short time they had fully digested the meaning behind the statement. Applejack was covering her sister’s ears, already being too late. Apple Bloom’s jaw hung wide, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle mimicking her. Dash shook her head in disbelief.

“Hate to say that I told you so. He is crazy," the mare pegasus murmured, a hoof covering her forehead.

“Faith, you have opened yourself to us much quicker than I thought you’d be able to do in such a short span of time," Twilight was heard uttering, long delayed by her own emotion before finally managing to express her concern. "There is still hope for you. But I personally ask you to stop from exclaiming plans of self-sacrifice to us just because you want to be a better person," she scolded the stallion, "Do you realize how you are doing a big disservice to everyone in this room with such a statement?”

Faith looked at the concerned expressions around him. His face eventually took a plummet with the eyes again closing tight. A fat tear rolled down both of his cheeks.

”Please forgive me,” he whimpered regretfully.

Before he even finished Twilight's hoof already set upon his shoulder. “All is forgiven. But you must remove such vile thoughts from your mind," she advices him, "It only gives bitterness more what it needs to win a pony over. You can’t just give up on yourself, Faith.”

Around them the mares and the fillies had already forgotten what he had said, ready to act as mental support save for Rainbow Dash who had become rather disturbed thus upset by the entire discussion and refusing to look at Faith’s direction.

“I would personally want you to stay with us but it is a decision that you make yourself," Twilight expressed. Despite the rather cynical nature of their preceding conversation her helpfulness remained strongly present. "As a test of trust I will allow you to go wherever you wish to be without using my magic as long as you won’t go back in Everfree," the unicorn promised with kindness, "But if you want our help you must stay within Ponyville.”

Faith didn't say anything, instead observing the other ponies standing around him. What he detected in everyone was a sincere fear for his safety. Even Rainbow's own restless body language hinted at regret despite her evasive mood.

Taking note of it all, Faith returned a look to the unicorn owning the house.

"Thank you for everything that you have done for me, Twilight Sparkle. At first I was afraid that I’d be forced into something I would not appreciate when you took me out of the forest. But now I accept that it was indeed a favor in return of my own.”

Backtracking, Faith gave glances to the mares and the fillies. “I’m so sorry, everyone. You have been invaluable," he apologized openly, "You taught me something about myself that I will never forget. I really am happy that our paths collided. Please believe me and forgive my cynicism. But I must move on.”

Still having gotten over his previous statements, Rainbow glanced over furiously and trotted to the feminine stallion. Hitting her front hooves loudly against the carpet as she stalled, Rainbow's voice became full of sourness, an upset glance hinting at let down expectations. “

"Alright then, mister hypocrite. Go on with your lonely journey if you so want. Run away." Her face tightened. "Coward!”, the cyan pegasus added with a loud exclamation, literally spearing him with her gaze to which Faith's own eyes now returned a look of surprise.

A shocked gasp left Twilight's mouth. “Rainbow,” the unicorn uttered in disbelief when her dismay changed target.

”Am I the only one who really follows this loser’s way of thinking?!", Rainbow's frustrated shout answered her friend, "He is only running away from himself! After all that we did for him!”

Pinkie Pie’s hair popped at hearing the outburst.

“That’s not a nice thing to say, Dashie," the earth mare murmured.

Listening, Twilight’s eyes narrowed and she clenched her teeth, finding it hard to remain cool headed. Rainbow's own antics were making her incrementally more frustrated.

“You’re not being fair at him at all, Rainbow!”, Twilight argued defensively as she glared daggers at her friend.

“Oh, is that so?", Rainbow barked back, her gaze still piercing Faith. "What do you have to say for yourself then, coward? Why are you running away from us?”

A sorrow was already seeping out from underneath the mare's burning crust.

Without saying anything Faith returned eye contact to Rainbow. Moving closer, the stallion settled right in front of her face, a calmness having overtaken him. For a moment nothing happened, just the two ponies looking each other in the eyes as the other mares and fillies alike stayed aside.

“You’re right, Rainbow. I am a coward," Faith answered without a hint of shyness or fear. In their place there was sadness and honesty.

Not having expected such an honest reply, Rainbow was caught unprepared. A derped expression replaced the furious one and the ears of the mare pegasus flopped down.

“I have been shying away from truly handling my own emotions as long as I can remember. It's almost automatic. It is hard to seek lasting comfort from other ponies because of a mindless fear. Such is the price of a long mental isolation," Faith told her, all of his former nervousness now gone. The stallion's eye contact with Rainbow remained consistent.

Despite it her off-put stature returned momentarily. “That’s only because you didn’t have the guts to truly give others the chance to build that unbreakable bondage!”, Rainbow roared, now sounding more upset than angry.

As the stallion listened a warm grin spread around his face.

“I can tell that you represent the element of loyalty, Rainbow," Faith mumbled politely, by now confident about truly speaking with a friend.

A bigger surprise now overshadowed her last one. Rainbow's head tilted sideways so fluently that it would have made Twilight's pet owl feel jealous. What little she had expected was nowhere near what he has ended up giving. Faith had guessed the name of her Element without having been told about it.

“I do not blame you for feeling the way you do about me," the other pegasus said from under his smile, "It is justified and I do not hold a grudge. But I really hope you too can someday let go of your own. You have done nothing to earn my extreme talk."

The other dumbfounded ponies overheard the exchange, almost repeating Rainbow's reaction.

"None of you have," Faith told everyone, "I am truly sorry about this.”

A friendly glance was returned to Rainbow Dash who's eyes had gotten huge.

"Rainbow, you take better care of your friends than I probably ever could. I mean it," her target of displease expressed sincerely.

“Wha……….you………..huh??”, Rainbow stuttered in dismay without forming any sentences. Faith had now redeemed himself with manners that at first she didn't believe had even existed behind his posterior.

“If you excuse me, I must take my mindless cowardice elsewhere so it won’t offend anyone else," Faith expressed calmly if not with a small hint of grief.

“I’m not offended," he heard Pinkie's slow mumbling.

Having decided to leave, he passed Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle on his way out while nodding at them as he went, emotional stares returned back at him by the three fillies. Looking indecisive, Twilight came after the pegasus. The rest of the mares remained frozen, Rainbow’s head stuck in a diagonal tilt. Fluttershy had collapsed to the floor, weeping.

Reaching the front door, Faith reached and opened the door to step outside. As he did so Twilight caught up with him, voice full of embarrassment as she communicated.

”Faith, I’m---------," she attempted to apologize before Faith literally covered her mouth with a green hoof.

“It’s alright, Twilight. I understand," he answered, having guessed what she was trying to bring across, "At least I think I do. She is a passionate friend to all of you.”

Faith's hoof slid off the unicorn's lips to gently grab her forelimb. Twilight was taken by the gesture.

“Take care. And don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine,” Faith told her quietly before he turned and departed outside. Twilight watched him go without saying anything, eventually marching back inside once he was gone.

The unicorn's mood had taken a switch for the worse. And it's target was obvious.

“Rainbow Dash!”, the unicorn snarled like a feline predator that had smelt blood. Still oblivious since Faith's exit, Rainbow snapped awake.

“What the smolder did I just listen to??”, the pegasus mare uttered.

Twilight's horn shone brightly as she marches right in front of her friend. Rainbow finally focused at her and began to realize how far she had gone to upset the other pony.

“You will go outside and apologize to him at this instant or I will change you into a tortoise so you can keep your pet company, Rainbow," Twilight shouted to her at full lungs, "Faith is still within reach!”

A glow set behind her eyes. Rainbow knew what it meant.

“Just cool it, Twili-------," the cyan pegasus whimpered.

“Right now!!!”, Twilight exclaimed with a noise that could scare a beast straight out of Everfree. Scared such a way, the other four mares keep their distance, deciding to not get involved in their dispute.

A concentrated beam of light scorched the floor right underneath Rainbow's hooves. The pegasus jumped back, again whimpering nervously.

”Can’t we talk about this?”

In desperation she raised her front limbs to call a truce between herself and Twilight. It didn't work. Twilight neared Rainbow, a new loud growl emanating from behind her interlocked teeth.

The pegasus swallowed loudly. Soothing Twilight's anger would demand much more than she had thought would be the case in the specific instance.

Rainbow dove to her left to evade the maddened unicorn. Twilight sprung forward to pursue, the horn shooting out sparks. Caught in the way, the others jumped sideways to give her space as she thundered after the pegasus while shouting angrily. In a short moment she had galloped out of the living room.

"Get back in here, Rainbow! I am so displeased with you now!”

Before she acknowledged it Fluttershy had already picked herself up from the floor and almost half-flew through the front door of the house.

Behind her she heard a loud explosive blast going off. The mare wasn't thinking about what was happening between Twilight and Rainbow. What her mind now focused at had already gotten a head start that Fluttershy intended to catch up with as soon as she could, running through the town as fast as her limbs carried her. Scanning frantically in hopes to find what she wanted to locate, the mare lungs took a huge inhale to produce a shout.

“Faith!”

She reached an intersection, halting.

"Did you see a green pegasus mare with a reddish brown mane walk through here?", Fluttershy asked a passerby, speaking extremely quickly. The pedestrian she made the question to rubbed his chin, an elder earth stallion with a grayish beard.

"I think I did see some green pony heading towards the forest way behind me," he told her, indicating his front limb at where Fluttershy remembers having been at with Faith a few hours earlier, "I think it was indeed a pegasus."

Fluttershy's eyes shrank. “Faith!”, the mare repeated loudly as she rushed towards the outskirts of the town, leaving the elder to a cloud of dust in her wake.

"How rude, she didn't even thank me," the stallion mumbled to himself while coughing.

Fluttershy's frantic search continues through the forest. Going around the trail, through the bushes, even pulling up rocks in her search for the feminine stallion, Fluttershy sensed a fear growing in her mind. She had already felt it back at Twilight's house only this time it had doubled. A whimper emanated from the mare's vocal chords as she attempted to keep it from exaggerating itself.

"Faith!"

She trashed through more bushes, disturbing the courtship of robins, an act would usually against her character because Fluttershy loved and respected all animals. But the yellow mare's own worry had made her forget it as she searched frantically.

Time stretched on, starting to break her hope apart.

Having exhausted herself, Fluttershy collapsed to the ground, hyperventilating, leaves and other plant bits tangled to her mane. The weeping of the mare pegasus was now the only sound heard, eyes squeezed shut with tears starting to emerge.

By now Faith must have gotten far beyond the border of Ponyville. She did not know whether or not he had chosen to fly or walk. It didn't matter in any case, her search had taken way too long.

From behind her a flock of butterflies enveloped Fluttershy's lying form. Still wallowing in her loss, she didn't react to them.

Despite it one chose to land right to the tip of her snout. The butterfly flapped it's delicate wings, seeing a stream of the pony's tears running down the cheek. The flock passed them, fluttering over an open hill spanning some distance away from the forest path where the mare had collapsed to. The lone butterfly sitting on her snout took off again to follow the rest of it's kin.

A simple fascination motivated her eyes to follow it's flight when it crossed the neutral space above the ground and she sniffed. Then Fluttershy gasped.

She had found Faith. He was standing at the top of the hill.

***